
October 17, 2025
Wright’s visionary design for Fallingwater grew from the ground up, based on his understanding and appreciation for the unique characteristics of the landscape at Bear Run. Wright’s decisions to construct Fallingwater using local sandstone from Bear Run, to form the house around large boulders, and to derive the overall shape of the house from naturally-occurring rock shelves are just a few of the ways that geology informed Wright’s design.
During this weekend workshop, view Fallingwater through the eyes of geologist, Fred Zelt. Zelt conducted the first-ever geological study of Fallingwater and will share his findings during guided tours, exploratory hikes, and scholarly discussions at Fallingwater and nearby Kentuck Knob and Ohiopyle State Park. During this workshop, learn how the naturally occurring stone at Bear Run served as the literal and figurative foundation for Wright’s design. With Zelt’s guidance, learn to “read” the geology of any landscape in order to better understand its natural history.
$500 per person, plus 6% service fee. Tuition includes lodging, meals, tour tickets, guided hikes, and exceptional access to Fallingwater.

Fred Zelt, Ph.D.
Earth Science Excursions, LLC
Western Pennsylvania native Fred Zelt started learning from rock outcrops at 17 years old, earned geology degrees at MIT and Princeton (Ph.D.), and served for 30 years as a researcher, explorer and executive with ExxonMobil that included assignments in Houston, Norway, England and New Orleans. In retirement, Fred returned to Western Pennsylvania and took up bicycling, pedaled across the USA, created a STEM and Cycling curriculum, created Earth Science Excursions, LLC and led more than 70 geology-themed hikes and bike rides. His informal YouTube videos about the geology and landscapes of Western Pennsylvania’s bike trails have accumulated several thousand views. In 2023, Fred led the first geologic study of Fallingwater and published the results in Geological Society of America Field Guide 66. Fred and his wife, Donna, have been married for 42 years and have four adult children and six grandchildren.